Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Reunion in Prison
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‘I didn't think she wouldn't show up today either.’
The shop door remained firmly shut.
Two days had passed, but the shop owner still hadn't returned.
‘Did something happen to her?’
I figured a day or so was understandable.
People have emergencies and have to lock up and leave.
It would have been nice if she'd posted a note saying she'd be back in a few days, but that was up to the homeowner.
In the end, it was just my hopeful wish as someone freeloading in her house.
Even if it was uncomfortable, I'd decided to wait for Aren.
‘This is weird.’
Something felt off.
Did Aren ever leave home around this time?
As far as I could recall, no.
In my regressing days, I'd seen her scrambling with side jobs due to lack of money, but she always came home to rest.
The only time she left was for labyrinth expeditions.
Even that possibility was ruled out since she couldn't use mana for a while.
‘Where the hell is she and what’s she doing?’
Yesterday, I'd asked the neighboring merchants, but they knew nothing.
The only eyewitness account was from the old man next door, who said she'd locked up around midday when the sun was high and vanished into the market crowd.
That gave me no clue about her whereabouts.
No hints to track her down—it was like searching for a needle in a sand dune.
‘Waiting it out trustingly is an option, I guess.’
I had enough means to live alone without staying at Aren's place.
Labyrinth City was overflowing with inns, and for a bit of coin, I could stretch out on a soft bed.
Facilities more comfortable than her home—in my repeated regression days, I'd holed up in a favorite inn, paying nightly fees.
It cost less than buying a house, and meals were cheaper too.
Sleeping on a hard floor in the cramped room she'd provided did less for my quality of life.
But.
“I might need to start sniffing around for Aren's whereabouts right away.”
I wanted her to come back here any moment and greet me.
I had something to give her, and stories from the labyrinth to share.
Staying with her was far more valuable to me than any comfy lodging.
‘I need to raise her affinity.’
I wanted to secure her affection as soon as possible, end this damn regression loop, and yet here we were, stuck.
Things weren't going according to plan, and it was pissing me off.
‘Finding a way to end the regressions was good, but this is a problem too.’
I'd realized this world was the otome game's original, and tried seducing the girl who caught my eye.
The world rewarded it as the right path, unlocking surprise events I'd never seen before.
The Eli sisters facing disaster in the upper floors right now—that was new from past loops.
Not impossible, but tough to handle.
‘I'll run into more incidents like this ahead, huh?’
I figured Aren's absence was one such event.
My instincts, honed by triple-digit regressions, were telling me so.
Aren was in trouble and might need my help.
It could be needless worry.
If so, great.
That'd put my mind at ease.
I could wrap it up with "It was all a misunderstanding!"
‘I just hope it's nothing troublesome.’
With no leads jumping out, I decided to review what I knew about her, grasping at straws.
Aren Twala.
An alchemist running a small potion shop in Labyrinth City.
She'd settled here from afar to pursue her dream of crafting elixirs.
Her talent and relentless research nearly commercialized potions, but severe side effects doomed it.
In a harsh reality where many mocked her, she never gave up and kept pushing.
‘That's the gist of her story.’
Nothing.
No clues surfaced even after sorting my thoughts…
-Aren, hurry up and come back.-
‘Ah, got it.’
It hit me from right after a regression restart.
When I was chugging her potions.
A man had dragged her into the labyrinth while handing them out.
Ksoos? Ksox?
I couldn't recall the name.
How could I remember some guy who introduced himself and then died?
I did know he was a mid-tier explorer from Golden Wing Guild.
‘That damn guild with the high-tier explorer.’
She'd joined as a novice explorer like me.
A mage welcomed everywhere, with overflowing talent—she'd joined easily, getting labyrinth entry permits and guild support.
Of course, she didn't stay long.
Short-term gig for quick cash, contractual non-regular position.
‘Come to think of it, she can't fulfill that contract right now, can she?’
She'd sold her mana for me, so no magic for a while.
Couldn't enter the labyrinth, so obviously couldn't uphold the deal.
‘What happened to guild members who broke contracts?’
Varied by guild, so I dredged my memory.
I'd always been with Black Claw Guild in loops, so Golden Wing memories were fuzzy.
‘…I remember.’
From the shards of countless memories, I finally found it.
The thought struck, and I moved at once.
‘Gotta hurry.’
Destination set.
Golden Wing Guild headquarters in north Labyrinth City.
…
Guild.
Organizations wielding part of the power under the Labyrinth City Association's protection.
Among five guilds, Golden Wing ruled the northern sector.
“Haha, little miss. Take this gift.”
“Wow, thank you!”
“Mom, look over there. There's a huge statue.”
“Sweetie, I told you not to run so fast.”
The north felt worlds apart from the centrally governed core.
If the center evoked a medieval metropolis, this was an amusement park.
No rides, but mascot performers handed out balloons as kids ran about joyfully.
In the festive buzz, adults smiled like kids, trailing their children.
Colorful fireworks lit up the fairground.
In the heart of this dreamlike scene, I crossed paved roads toward a pristine white castle, like a swan alighted.
“Halt!”
Guards blocked me at the gate, spears aimed my way.
“No unidentified persons allowed. State your identity.”
“Explorer from the Association, Leon Star. Here to meet someone—may I enter?”
“Don't just name-drop—show ID proving it!”
‘What a pain.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Locals and outsiders alike had their IDs checked at city entry.
This was less procedure, more gatekeeping.
Even if I showed one, they'd claim it didn't match and send me packing.
“Sorry, but as a novice explorer, I don't have ID yet.”
“Then get lost. This ain't a place for shady types like you.”
The guards rebuffed me outright.
No choice.
Not wanting a scene, I played along.
“I heard Aren Twala's here. Please guide me to her.”
I sidled up and slipped a silver coin into his pocket.
The small gesture he'd craved.
Grinning with yellowed teeth, he pocketed it.
“Follow me.”
Finally, he led me inside.
We headed to the dim basement below the castle. Midway down the stairs, he glanced back.
“Aren Twala's doing forced labor for breaching her Golden Wing Guild contract.”
“I see.”
As expected, she'd been caught by Golden Wing and punished with hard labor.
Using Association authority, they enslaved contract-breakers as workers.
“She got guild support, so she'll stay till the debt's paid—no leaving.”
“How long?”
“Unless someone pays it off, about three years? Don't know exactly—ask someone else.”
Down the stairs, a dank underground passage appeared, lined with rusted iron cages filling my view.
And.
“Leon!”
There, amid the cages, covered in dirt, was Aren, locked away.